Deliberating the pros and cons of medical evidence to govern treatment decisions decreases the public’s willingness to rely solely on patient choices, especially when those choices can harm the individual or the larger community.

The U.S. health care system’s complexity, coupled with the emotional and personal nature of serious illness or injury, often makes it difficult for policymakers to obtain informed public views to help guide decisions on complicated health care issues. This study found that public deliberation, which encourages people to become informed about a topic and consider alternative perspectives, shifted participants' attitudes about the importance of medical evidence in treatment decisions.